IllustrationMY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN JUST BEFORE I GOT ON THE FREEWAY AT A STOP LIGHT MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THEN I LOST ALL POWER ASSIST WITH THE VEHICLE THANKFULLY WE HADNT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC. THE POWER ASSIST IS NOW OFF AND ON
2009 Ford Escape
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1010–25K
16725–50K
28050–75K
24175–100K
408100–150K
219150K+
1,416 reports with mileage · 276 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 827 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 301 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 279 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
34 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
22 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN JULY OF 2017, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND LOST SPEED. WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO GET OFF ON THE SHOULDER AND CUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN WE STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. HOWEVER, THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. TO …
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN JULY OF 2017, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND LOST SPEED. WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO GET OFF ON THE SHOULDER AND CUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN WE STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. HOWEVER, THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, AND THEY OPENED CASE #CAS-12676591. I FOUND A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM DATED 09/03/2010, RECALL #10E043000 AND ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE #14S05/NHTSA RECALL 14V-284 DATED JULY 2014. HOWEVER, FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM TELLING ME IT WAS A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL REGARDLESS OF THE MANUFACTURER. IT COST US $1,868.04 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN JULY OF 2019, AND COST US ANOTHER $776.60 TO REPAIR. I WOULD HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT SOONER BUT JUST FOUND OUT HOW TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.
VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION.
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING SO THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME BUT NOT ALL ESCAPES ON A CITY STREET WHILE I WAS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. AND ALSO TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT ESCAPE 4WD V6 W/ ~172,XXX. DASH NOTIFICATION APPEARED ON 02/09/19 BUT QUICKLY WENT AWAY. POWER STEERING WAS FINE, NOT ONE ISSUE EVER. THEN ON 02/11/19 ON THE WAY HOME, THE DASH ALERT SHOWED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY AND BEEPED MULTIPLE T…
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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. AND ALSO TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT ESCAPE 4WD V6 W/ ~172,XXX. DASH NOTIFICATION APPEARED ON 02/09/19 BUT QUICKLY WENT AWAY. POWER STEERING WAS FINE, NOT ONE ISSUE EVER. THEN ON 02/11/19 ON THE WAY HOME, THE DASH ALERT SHOWED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY AND BEEPED MULTIPLE TIMES. I PARKED IT AT HOME IN DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO MOVE IT INTO THE STREET A LITTLE BIT LATER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NONEXISTENT. TOOK FULL BODY WEIGHT TO JUST GET IT TO IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. LUCKY THAT I WASN'T DRIVING OR DELIVERING FOR MY JOB LIKE I USUALLY AM DURING THE WEEK. BUT TO MY LUCK, MY VIN ISN'T UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY ESCAPE WAS BUILT IN MAY 2009, WELL WITHIN THE RECALL TIME PERIOD. I THINK HIGHLY OF FORD AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AT THEIR ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE AND CURB CUSTOMER ISSUES... AND THIS IS A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING ISSUE! ANY FORD EXECUTIVE OR HIGHER UP WOULD HAVE THIS DONE ASAP IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO THEIR OWN FAMILY. WE NEED TO ALL STAND UP AND FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR SAFETY OR OUR FINANCIAL WELLBEING. MOST CAN'T AFFORD THESE $1-2K FIXES.
I WAS ON MY TO WORK ONE MORNING ENTERING THE INTERSTATE ON RAMP AND I LOST POWER STEERING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. MAKING IT EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. UPON TAKING IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME MY POWER STEERING TORQUE CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING. THIS WAS A RECALL ON ESCAPES FROM 2008 …
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I WAS ON MY TO WORK ONE MORNING ENTERING THE INTERSTATE ON RAMP AND I LOST POWER STEERING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. MAKING IT EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. UPON TAKING IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME MY POWER STEERING TORQUE CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING. THIS WAS A RECALL ON ESCAPES FROM 2008 / 2011, BUT THEY SAID MY PARTICULAR VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL??? UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION MYSELF I'M SEEING WHERE NUMEROUS FORD OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND LIKE MYSELF HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OUT OF POCKET...NOT CHEAP I MAY ADD. IT SEEMS THAT SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO LOOSE THEIR LIFE AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR (ALL) MODELS IN THIS TIME FRAME... WHAT A HORRIBLE THING FOR FORD TO PUT THEIR CONSUMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN JEPORDY DUE TO THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FULL RECALL ON ALL MODELS BETWEEN THIS TIME FRAME. ALSO VEHICLES TO BE FIXED AT FORDS EXPENSE BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES A LOVED ONE. AND REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD IT FIXED AT OUR EXPENSE....
ON A SNOWY MORNING THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED NORMALLY AND THE SLIPPERY CONDITIONS CAUSED ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO ACTIVATE. THEY SEEMED TO WORK NORMALLY, BUT AFTER THAT ACTIVATION THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT VERY SOFT AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE PEDAL TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL STOP, BUT THE BRAKES WERE UNPR…
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ON A SNOWY MORNING THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED NORMALLY AND THE SLIPPERY CONDITIONS CAUSED ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO ACTIVATE. THEY SEEMED TO WORK NORMALLY, BUT AFTER THAT ACTIVATION THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT VERY SOFT AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE PEDAL TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL STOP, BUT THE BRAKES WERE UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) AND WAS REPLACED WITH THE ABS MODULE AS A UNIT ($1700). THE NEW UNIT REQUIRED REPROGRAMMING AND BLEEDING AT THE DEALERSHIP ($200). BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY COMPONENT WITHIN A REASONABLE MILEAGE (140,000 VEHICLE MILEAGE), THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE OEM WITH AT LEAST A TSB.
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY. 2 LITTLE GIRLS 12 AND 6 AND THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND DRIVING AND NOT ME, WE WERE RETURNING A RENTAL CAR WHEN MY CAR FLASHED OUT OF NO WHERE GOING ABOUT 45MPH POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT UPON MY RESEARCH; THERE HAS BEEN CERTAIN VEHICLES RECALLED. COME ON FORD! WHATEVER THE DEFAULT IS, CAN YOU AT …
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WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY. 2 LITTLE GIRLS 12 AND 6 AND THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND DRIVING AND NOT ME, WE WERE RETURNING A RENTAL CAR WHEN MY CAR FLASHED OUT OF NO WHERE GOING ABOUT 45MPH POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT UPON MY RESEARCH; THERE HAS BEEN CERTAIN VEHICLES RECALLED. COME ON FORD! WHATEVER THE DEFAULT IS, CAN YOU AT LEAST GIVE US OWNERS INSIGHT ON THIS STUFF TO GET IT FIXED? IS THIS SOME KIND OF MONEY MAKER FOR YOU ALL? TO SET UP CERTAIN TIMERS FOR THIS STUFF TO HAPPEN? I'M JUST SO THANMF THAT I WASN'T DRIVING. I WOULD HAVE NOT HAD THE POWER MY HUSBAND DOES TO OVERTAKE THE WHEEL. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO SOMETHING!
MY CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE APRIL 2018. AFTER THE CAR STALLS, I AM ABLE TO RESTART IT AND IT RUNS AGAIN. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND PUT MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK.
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST EVEN AFTER THE RECALL REPROGRAMMING. MY VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN IN FOR FOR RECALL NUMBER 14S05 IN JULY. 2014. TROUBLE CODES WERE NOT FOUND AT THAT TIME SO THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY DID A REPROGRAMMING WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. OUR VEHICLE HAD A COMPLETE L…
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SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST EVEN AFTER THE RECALL REPROGRAMMING. MY VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN IN FOR FOR RECALL NUMBER 14S05 IN JULY. 2014. TROUBLE CODES WERE NOT FOUND AT THAT TIME SO THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY DID A REPROGRAMMING WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. OUR VEHICLE HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING ON 11/7/17 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND TROUBLE CODE B1342 WHICH IF FOUND DURING THE 2014 RECALL APPOINTMENT, IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEING REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE PREVIOUS REPROGRAMMING, EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE IN RESOLVING THE CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. CLEARLY, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT POWER STEERING LOSS AND FAILURE CODE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE REPROGRAMMING DID NOT HAVE THE INTENDED RESULT WHATSOEVER - I STILL EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING LOSS. I HAVE TRIED TO ESCALATE THIS ISSUE WITHIN FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY ARE DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE THIS KNOWN DEFECT UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY DUE TO THE PREVIOUS REPROGRAMMING. I'M HOPING NHTSA CAN HELP RESOLVE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE - I'M SURE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES AFFECTED! IM A SINGLE MOM AND DO NOT HAVE THE $1300 TO REPLACE THIS PART WHICH SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED THE FIRST TIME!!!!!
Official recalls
114V284000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
May 29, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving
Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages
PE13003 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Feb 21, 2013 · Closed Feb 28, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles. During this investigation, Ford identified a condition in subject vehicles equipped with 2.5L and 3.0L engines that may result in a sudden reduction of engine power.According to Ford, the ETB internal motor contacts may develop a high resistance material buildup condition on the commutator, resulting in intermittent electrical connectivity and reduced engine power. When this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or Wrench light will illuminate and the vehicle may enter a limited limp home mode.Ford?s trade name for the feature is Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM) mode.In this mode, engine power and vehicle speed are reduced, while full function of the power steering, power braking, lighting, and climate control systems are maintained.ODI?s complaint analysis indicate that the predominant failure mode involved reduced motive power associated with the limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Analysis of warranty claims provided by Ford identified 59,807 claims related to ETB replacements and approximately 50 percent of claims are associated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed.Ford described several factors where the ETB motor may fail resulting in DTCs P2111 or P2112 but the failure is not an existing stuck open or closed ETB valve position.According to Ford, the ETB control strategy provides the driver with three FMEM modes that allow varying degrees of vehicle mobility depending on the severity of the fault detected.DTCs associated with stuck open or closed throttle valves are designated the highest failure severity resulting in engine speeds limited to high idle corresponding to the limited limp home mode.Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability.Other FMEM limp modes may result in reduced engine performance but will maintain vehicle speed above 20mph. During this investigation, Ford and its suppliers, Delphi and Igarashi, updated the powertrain control module (PCM) software to include a throttle body motor cleaning cycle during key-on and modified the ETB internal motor components design, surface finish and material composition to improve durability. Additionally, Ford developed a remedy procedure and issued a special Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 13N03 extending the ETB warranty coverage and instructing dealers to update the powertrain calibration to improve vehicle performance in the event that intermittent electrical connectivity of the throttle body motor contacts occurs. The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, all vehicles are eligible for the program through January 31, 2015 regardless of mileage.Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by mail to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer who will reprogram the PCM to the latest calibration. The bulletin was sent to dealers on January 17, 2014 and the owner letter mailing began on January 27, 2014. See the investigative file for copies of Ford's bulletin and owner letter. This preliminary evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding that
DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.